The therapeutic potential of compounds derived from Cannabis sativa is of great interest for the treatment of various diseases. However, the psychoactive effects and, in particular, alterations that these substances produce cognitively represent an important limitation for the development of new drugs based on compounds derived from this plant. Research, published on July 9 to PLoS Biology has managed to separate certain therapeutic effects of cannabinoids of the main undesirable effects.

This breakthrough identifies new therapeutic targets in the central nervous system and allows the future design of new drugs. It is a study that was led by Rafael Maldonado, head of the Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (CEXS), University Pompeu Fabra, with Patricia Robledo, researcher at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) and Xavier Viñals as first author, both members of his laboratory, involving researchers from the IMIM.